Year 4 Trip to Osborne House
On Friday 5th June, as part of their Victorian topic, Year 4 visited Osborne House on The Isle of Wight. On arrival we all walked down to Swiss Cottage which was used by Queen Victoria and her family to spend time as a family.
The Year 4s learnt about how Queen Victoria and Prince Albert used Swiss Cottage to teach their children to cook and grow their own fruit and vegetables. After Swiss Cottage we visited the Museum. The children were encouraged to find: the world's smallest owl, scissors and penknife, a five-legged deer and a nine-legged tarantula! This was followed by a tour around Osborne House during which a huge variety of rooms, from servants' quarters to Queen Victoria's bedroom, were seen.
After lunch, they then went to The Discovery Centre where they had to dress up and learn what life was like as a servant for Queen Victoria. Some of the duties they explored were: how to lay the table, knot fire paper, polish the brass, make the beds, polish boots and food preparation. Each child was given a Victorian name and they were introduced to the Housekeeper, Mrs Pilkington; a rather formidable lady who even scared the teachers!
A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all and the children learnt a considerable amount about Queen Victoria and Victorian life.